01 Mar Dog constipation; Causes and Treatment (Part 1)

Dogs are creatures whose digestive problems severely affect their quality of life and make them immoral. This disease causes them to lose their vitality and playfulness. Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in dogs. it’s a problem that you will face while keeping a dog. So stay tuned to get acquainted with the symptoms, causes and actions that should be done to treat your dog’s constipation to relieve his pain and discomfort.

Definition of constipation in dogs

Dogs normally defecate once or twice a day. If your dog has constipation, it means that the dog’s stool production and defecation process is abnormal. In this case, the dog either defecates hard or the volume of feces in the dog’s intestines is so large and heavy that it can’t go to the bathroom. All dogs may be constipated, But these conditions are more common in older dogs.

Cause of Constipation

Normally, the feces passes easily through the dog’s digestive tract and enter the large intestine. Excess water and electrolytes are absorbed and eventually excreted through a process known as peristaltic waves. Now, if this natural process is disrupted, the passage of stool in the intestine stops and the dog’s stool becomes hard, dry, and impossible to pass.

Causes of the disorder

• Dog’s past neurological diseases and injuries, such as central nervous system disorders, dog gastrointestinal disease, injuries of the spine, hypothyroidism, enlarged prostate, obstruction of the dog’s anal sac, etc.
• Obstruction inside the colon
• Obstruction due to extracorporeal factors such as gastrointestinal tumours, orthopedic disorders that cause the dog to squat, etc.
• One of the injuries that this disease causes to the dog is that the feces remain in the dog’s colon and rectum, which causes the disease to dilate the colon (Mega Colon). So if you notice a change in your dog’s stool or find him difficult to defecate, consult a veterinarian to prevent possible damage.

Other causes of dog constipation

• Insufficient mobility
• Not getting enough fibre in your dog’s diet
• Side effects of medication, surgery, or other medical procedures
• Dog’s fear and stress
• Dehydration
• Swallowing hair due to excessive licking of long hair and its accumulation in the stool
• Excessive hair around the dog’s anus due to not shaving or obesity
• Swallowing things that the dog can’t digest, such as grass, bones, toy parts, etc.

Symptoms of constipation

A dog with constipation usually has the following symptoms:

• Lethargy
• Restlessness, dodging, frequent squatting
• Anorexia 
• Dog vomiting
• Humpback mode
• Excessive pushing
• Dyskinesia and unrealistic diarrhea (feces inside the rectum stimulate and secrete mucus that looks like dog diarrhea)
• Crying or showing signs of discomfort when defecating
• Stiff, dry stools similar to pebbles
• Excretion of feces with blood

Prevention

To prevent constipation in dogs, it’s better to identify the underlying factors. Such as metabolic disorders, hyperthyroidism, orthopedic problems and the presence of anal and rectal lesions. Then move on to things that reduce the risk of getting the disease. for example:

• Avoid eating bones, hair, plant materials, waste, etc
• Regular daily activity and depletion of dog energy
• Availability of clean, fresh and sufficient water
• Awareness of the side effects of drugs
• An adequate diet with enough fibre
• Take the dog out several times for defecation
• Use of laxatives in the short term
• Use edible teeth or toy teeth instead of bone
• Sterilizing dogs

The healthiest diet for dogs

So far in this article, we have found that proper diet and adequate fibre in your dog’s meals, as well as adequate mobility, have a great effect on preventing your dog’s constipation. If you don’t want to worry about your dog’s health and diet, make sure he gets all the minerals he needs. Dogs that always sit and have little activity, compared to dogs that exercise regularly and daily; They are more prone to constipation and other health problems. Exercise helps increase bowel movements and the healthy excretion of waste products.

In addition, having a nutritious diet that meets all of a dog’s nutritional needs helps to strengthen the dog’s digestive system and prevents problems such as constipation. You can tell your dog’s characteristics such as breed, weight, age, activity level and health status to the veterinarian and then receive a complete and comprehensive diet plan specifically for your dog. If your dog doesn’t stool in the house; Take him out several times a day to defecate.